Stories & Commentaries

With a mother who is a professional radio personality and a father who is a disc jockey, communication is in Brittany Winkfield’s blood. It should come as no surprise that the young adult entrepreneur is successfully managing a career as a magazine editor and publisher of her own start-up, as well as balancing the roles of communication professional, wife, and mother.

Rockefeller "Rocky" Twyman was a guest the NewsPoints ON THE AIR Podcast in February 2021. Inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and molded by Adventist education, Tywman has led a life of service for decades. In addition, he is also a classically trained musician and prayer warrior. His “can-do” attitude has sustained the 72-year-old’s drive to do all he can to help others.

“‘Something better’ is the watchword of education, the law of all true living. …To honor Christ, to become like Him, to work for Him, is the life’s highest ambition and its greatest joy” (Ellen G. White, Education, p. 296). "Something Better" was the theme for the 2021 Association of Seventh-day Adventist School Administrators conference, which went virtual for the first time.

She was strong, committed, and determined to live for and be like Jesus. She read and studied her Bible daily. She cared for others—fed, clothed, nursed, housed, visited, taught about Jesus, and sang/prayed for and with others. Her purpose in life and her greatest joy, she often said, was to tell everyone about Jesus Christ. She was my "G" — and we called her a prayer warrior.

Much like the example in Joshua 3-5 where the Israelites placed stones to remember the spot the Jordan River dried up for crossing, each year during the month of February in the U.S. some African Americans celebrate their history by focusing on historical milestones or “stones of remembrance” that have led to progress on their journey from slavery to freedom.

It was Monday morning, Jan. 18, 2021, in College Place, Washington, a year into the coronavirus pandemic, and “As far as the eye could see, there were cars. The mood was one of anticipation and gratitude,” said Alareece Collie, executive pastor for the Walla Walla University (WWU) Church. While most of the world’s population has suffered from social isolation, unease, and painful losses during the past year, it was the promise of hope that brought the Walla Walla Valley community together.

You’ve read the social media posts before — the ones that make you cringe, angry, hurt, sad, depressed, or simply numb. By the way some "Christians" post online, you might think they don’t realize there is a real person(s) somewhere in the world reading and contemplating their potentially destructive words. Every encounter we have with one another matters.

As we draw to the end of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations of 2021 and reflect on the state of things in the United States, North America, and our world, one can’t help but be perplexed by the paradox of our times. In one of Dr. King’s most famous speeches he said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." Some want to say that we have arrived at that place, but have we really?

In Matthew 28:19, 20 are the words of Jesus in the passage called “The Great Commission.” Notice that Jesus gave three commands in this Great Commission, after exhorting us to go make disciples, baptize, and teach them to observe all things as Jesus taught/commanded. When He spoke, Jesus didn’t “wing it.” He gave thought to what He was saying, how He was saying it, and in what order He was saying it. We should not take these imperatives lightly, nor should we ignore the order in which they were given.

​​​​​​​The events in Washington, D.C., during the past few days have been traumatic for most Americans, and shocking for those around the world. The leadership of the North American Division affirms the rights of people to respectfully protest, but strongly condemns the reprehensible actions of rioters that show a clear disrespect for the safety of others, the institution of democracy, and the diplomatic and orderly process of the transition of government.